Suggestion to the OP, they can make it an advice if they wish for that's what it is:
OP, just write your posts like there isn't a prize to be won and you would be alright. Just make them constructive to inform and teach others and the Merit may come in.
For starters, since he is still a low-ranking member, it may be better if he will post for the sake of merit in mind. That way he will exert more effort and thought in his posts and dozens of those will make him get used to it and he can post whatever he wants without thinking for the sake of merit but the quality of posts will still be there since he got used in posting that way.